Colossians 1:9-12

A Supernatural Life for Supernatural People – Part 1

Now here in the first chapter of Colossians the Apostle Paul is greeting and commending the Colossian church for their most holy faith which is prospering and growing. As he writes, he tells them that he has been praying earnestly for them, and then goes on to describe the things he has been praying for in verses 1:9-12..

We then have the benefit of knowing, if Saint Paul were to pray for the church, with all his inspired knowledge, just what would he pray for? And in this we see the great desire of Christ for His church, as these words have been breathed out by His Spirit through the great Apostle. Moreover we have expressed for us here in writing what are the amazing and higher attainments of the Christian life, those things for which we should be longing for and pressing toward as we seek to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have here those great spiritual virtues of the Kingdom of God articulated for us in a way that explains the character and nature of the spiritual life of the children of God, which is in fact a supernatural life enjoyed only by those who have been truly born again and transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit of God. Here as the Apostle pours out his heart before God longing for the maturity of the church, we have a manual or map for our spiritual growth laid out before us, even a great feast of tasty morsels of the divine and spiritual pattern of the heavenward call of God for our own personal lives and that of our local church fellowship as well.

May we be ever thankful to our God for giving us this rich passage of text for us to feast upon and be spiritually nourished for our journey to Heavens glory!

Colossians 1:9 – 9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

A. For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask – See here the importance of diligence in the Christian life. Paul’s concern for the church causes him to pray without ceasing, and to be continually offering up a prayer to God for their health and growth in the faith. Are we yet so concerned with our own spiritual life that we, with the Apostle continually beseech God for His power and blessing in our lives? Let us not be slothful in our faith, but diligent in seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness, that we may be filled with all of His goodness!

B. that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding – Here Paul’s first and greatest request. Let us not overlook the importance of this great virtue in Christian life. It is to “be filled with the knowledge of His will.” That is, to know what God wants, what He prefers, what is consistent with His desires, and more, to be informed about His threatenings, commandments, and judgments, His precepts and requirements. This is foremost in the Christian life and from it flows all blessing, happiness, and comfort in time of need. We do not know the mind of God naturally, and we only learn about Him what He chooses to reveal. Now this “knowledge of His will” comes through an understanding of God’s will as he has revealed it in Holy Writ. What we know about God’s desires and precepts, His commandments and judgments, are revealed to us by God an in the manner which He has chosen to deliver it to us in the Scriptures. The Scriptures are filled with such holy and majestic pronouncements that only God could speak; duties are therein prescribed, which none but God can require; sins are therein condemned, which none but God can prohibit; threatenings of punishments are therein denounced, which none but God can inflict; promises of rewards are therein made, which none but God can bestow; and all in such a majestic way, as does evidence God to be the author of this book of the Scriptures, and it is here where we learn the revealed “knowledge of His will.” Moreover, Paul prays that we posses this “in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” Notice it is “spiritual wisdom,” which means it comes only by the Spirit of God, it is not of the natural unspiritual man. For the natural man cannot grasp them; …. turn with me…

1 Corinthians 2:9-16 – 9 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. NASB

Since we have the Spirit of God living in us and performing His ministry of revelation to us, we now have the ability and capacity to believe and to grasp “the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,” and to therefore rightly see our world, our purpose, and the real reasons why things exist in the world and what they are for. The eye of sinful man thy glory may not see…the natural man gropes in the darkness of sin, not even realizing that it is God who holds his very life together and his next breathe in His hand, every moment of everyday. But the Christian has knowledge of the meaning and purpose of all things, knowing that it all exists by God, and for God and that His ends and purposes are chief in everything. God is ruling the circumstances of human history by His mighty Providence, and for the ends and purposes which he has designed.

Proverbs 16:4 – 4 The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil. NASB

If this be true of the grand scheme of the world and the nations, how much more for our everyday life, God’s people, whom He bought and redeemed with the precious blood of Christ? This is why Paul prays that we would be filled with his knowledge, “in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” The word for understanding here in the Greek is sunesis, and means to put together. Calvin calls it, “that discrimination that proceeds from intelligence.” It is to grasp and comprehend God’s “knowledge” and His “spiritual wisdom” with the “understanding.” Not to be foolish or ignorant of God’s will but to understand it.

The Psalmist wrote…

Psalm 143:10 – 10 Teach me to do Thy will, For Thou art my God; Let Thy good Spirit lead me on level ground. NASB

And Paul says in Romans…

Romans 12:2 – 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. NASB

And again he said in Ephesians…

Ephesians 5:15-17 – 15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. NASB

Hear then this great request of the Apostle, that we would indeed attain to a more distinct, clear, and practical knowledge of the mind of God in Christ, and a greater measure of conformity to what he requires, desires, loves and approves!

Clarke comments – “The Colossians had knowledge, but they must have more; it is their privilege to be filled with it.  As the bright shining of the sun in the firmament of heaven fills the whole world with light and heat, so the light of the Sun of righteousness is to illuminate their whole souls, and fill them with Divine splendor, so that they might know the will of God, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; in a word, that they might have such a knowledge of Divine things as the Spirit of truth can teach to the soul of man.”

Dear Christian, let us be longing for this knowledge and spiritual wisdom! Let us always and ever be mining these jewels as precious treasure and longing for and delighting in our God as we come to know Him better and better!

Solomon wrote…

Proverbs 23:23 – 23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding. NASB

Proverbs 4:5-9 – 5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. 6 “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. 7 “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. 8 “Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her. 9 “She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty.” NASB

Colossians 1:10 – 10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

A. so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects – Here now Paul gives the reason why he wants us to “be filled with the knowledge of God’s will.” It is “so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects.” What good is all our learning and all our knowledge if we do not apply what we have learned? Jesus said…

Luke 11:28 – 28 But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and observe it.” NASB

And so Christ’s great desire for His church, that we would “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects.” This is to say that we obey Him, and live in such a way that our thoughts, words and deeds are in accord with His good character and nature. This is to say that we do not disobey Him and live in a manner that is sinful and shameful in the sight of God. Did He save you and wash you and cleanse you from your shame so that you could go back out and swim in the mud hole of sin once again? No instead He wishes that you would “please Him in all respects.” Oh Christian, that you would fear the Lord and obey His commandments, that you would be loving and gracious and kind and forgiving, just as He has been with you. The Psalmist wrote….

Psalm 119:1-6 – 119 How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the Lord. 2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart. 3 They also do no unrighteousness; They walk in His ways. 4 Thou hast ordained Thy precepts, That we should keep them diligently. 5 Oh that my ways may be established To keep Thy statutes! 6 Then I shall not be ashamed When I look upon all Thy commandments. NASB

Obedience to God’s Word is the fruit and evidence that we have been reconciled to God, and that we love Him properly as He has commanded us. Paul goes on…

B. bearing fruit in every good work – If then we are walking “in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects,” surely we will be “bearing fruit in every good work.” As a mature fruit tree bears much fruit, here see the product of a mature Christian life, that we would “bear fruit in every good work.” But what of these good works, what are they? Well surely they fall into several categories. William Burkitt comments; “By good works, he undoubtedly means works of piety towards God, works of righteousness towards our neighbors, works of sobriety towards ourselves, works of charity towards all. By fruitfulness in these good works, he means an unwearied diligence, and persevering constancy in the doing of them, that our fruitfulness be an universal fruitfulness, an humble and self-denying fruitfulness, a proportionate fruitfulness, an abounding and abiding fruitfulness; that is to be fruitful in every good work.” Well to that I say amen, and I would like to add some further description. By these things see the good works of a Christian’s life….

·        works of piety towards God – In seeking to Love God with all that is within us, regular fellowship with God’s Holy Church, where we worship God through Word and Sacrament (that is through preaching and through the Lord’s Table), and where we exercise those God given gifts that we have in service to His church, in evangelizing and the making of disciples, in loving and serving the church

·        works of righteousness towards our neighbors – This would include helping our neighbors and coworkers and friends and acquaintances in all kinds of work, or of giving when they are in need, serving them through hospitality, supporting the cause of justice in its various forms in our community, serving our neighbors in various means and ways as befits a Christian, with all goodness and integrity

·        works of sobriety towards ourselves – This would include daily meditation on the word of God, daily communion with God in prayer, regular fellowship with godly Christians, being a good spouse and a good parent, exercising our God given roles with much patience and kindness

·        works of charity towards all – This would include meeting the needs of anyone and everyone when it is within your power to do it, defending the fatherless, helping the widow and the helpless, coming to the aid of the defenseless

Good works are the product of a Christian’s life, and that which we seek to grow in, and delight in carrying out. This Paul has said to us many times….

Ephesians 2:10 – 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. NASB

Titus 3:1-2 – 3 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. NASB

Titus 3:7-8 – 8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. NASB

Titus 3:14 – 14 And let our people also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, that they may not be unfruitful. NASB

Therefore let us Christians walk in this manner which is worthy of the Lord, that we “bear fruit in every good work.”

C. and increasing in the knowledge of God; – Here see Christ’s desire for your higher attainment in Christian virtue, that you be “increasing in the knowledge of God.” This is the never ending joy and privilege of the saints, that the knowledge of God and His Christ and His kingdom in inexhaustible and therefore we are to constantly engage in this activity. He says we are to be “increasing,” that growing in and learning more of the knowledge of God. This was the pattern of our Lord, He was always and continually teaching His disciples. And they followed suit as they were daily from house to house and in the temple teaching. This is the nature of the Christian Faith. It is a didactic enterprise, a teaching fellowship, a learning community. Paul wrote in this very book of Colossians…

Colossians 1:28-29 – 28 And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. NASB

Colossians 3:16 – 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. NASB

This is the ongoing state of a Christian’s supernatural life, that we be always and evermore learning and “increasing in the knowledge of God.”

Contentment and Providence- Part  3

Philippians 4:11

Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content

in whatever circumstances I am. NASB

In this brief study I would like to:

1)    Show briefly that God is in His Providence is governing and ordering all the circumstances of our lives

2)    Remind us of His great and precious promises to care for us and meet all of our needs, and also that His Providence is loving and always has our highest good in mind, not necessarily our earthly comfort

3)    Show briefly that discontentment is a embittering sin which greatly hinders our enjoyment of God and our ability to glorify Him

4)    Exhort us to contentment through Philippians 4:11-13

I will be offering comments from Thomas Watson’s book “The Art of Divine Contentment.” It can be purchased at www.christianbook.com or read here…. http://www.fivesolas.com/watson/content.htm

 4 )    Exhort us to contentment through Philippians 4:11-13

Philippians 4:11 – 11 Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. NASB

A. 11 Not that I speak from want – Here Paul is simply commenting on verse 10 where he is commending the Philippians for providing for his welfare. Here he is saying that he is currently in a situation where he has unmet needs, but rather that he is amply supplied.

B. for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am – Contentment is a lesson that we must learn, “I have learned to be content.” It does not come naturally or by easy means. It only comes after we have found ourselves in plenty and in need, in happiness and in sorrow, on the mountaintop and in the valley, and in all of these places have learned that God is our source, He is our shield, He is our comfort and our hope. Through these ups and downs we learn to be content that God is on the throne, and ordering the events of our lives according to His wise Providence and for our highest good and His greatest glory!

Philippians 4:12 – 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. NASB

A. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; – Here Paul explains he knows how no to be distressed or anxious when he is in need, nor to complain against God when resources are meager. But in contrast, he knows how to “live in prosperity,” that is, to be content with what he has and not driven by a continual lust for more, but rather humble and thankful to God for the many blessings. Notice that there is temptation in either circumstance, whether having barely enough or plenty, we are tempted to either complain against Providence or take it for granted.

B. in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need – Here see that his knowing how to get along deals with “any and every circumstance,” which means beyond just having food and shelter. See here that contentment is necessary in all the situations of life we find ourselves in. This means being content with our spouses, our careers, our children’s temperaments, our health or sickness, our homes, our in-laws, our neighbors and any other things in our lives. Learn here that Paul calls it “the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need” Consider, could one actually be content in “going hungry” or “suffering need”? Or what about “being filled” and “having abundance,” can we be content in that and not lusting for more? Surely we can, and Paul tells us “the secret” in the next verse.

Philippians 4:13 – 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. NASB

A. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me – Now this grand statement of the apostle begs the question, “How many things is all things?” And, in this context of being contented, surely Paul means to say that no matter what circumstances we face, we can be contented before God, and happy in Him. Consider Job, even though Providence had dealt him a very bitter hand, yet he did not lose his faith and trust in God. In the midst of his terrible suffering he says,

Job 1:20-22 – 20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” 22 Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God. NASB

In all of this, “Job did not sin nor did he blame God.” Consider, if Job can face what he faced and still worship God and not blame God, but rather trusted in and praised God no matter what he faced, how much more can we, who have the knowledge of Christ and the indwelling Spirit to comfort? In fact, we “can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Barnes comments… “I can do all things. From the experience which Paul had in these various circumstances of life, he comes here to the general conclusion that he could “do all things.” He could bear any trial, perform any duty, subdue any evil propensity of his nature, and meet all the temptations incident to any condition of prosperity or adversity.  His own experience in the various changes of life had warranted him in arriving at this conclusion; and he now expresses the firm confidence that nothing would be required of him which he would not be able to perform. In Paul, this declaration was not a vain self-reliance, nor was it the mere result of his former experience. He knew well where the strength was to be obtained by which to do all things, and on that arm that was able to uphold him he confidently relied.”

Dear Christian, shall you poison your blessed days with the sour water of discontent? Why not look beyond the “light and momentary affliction” (2 Cor 4:17) to Christ, your strong Savior, and there find all of the comfort and grace needed to endure. In fact, your trial is designed by God’s good Providence to drive you to the feet of Jesus, and in humble trust for you to cast your cares upon Him.

1 Peter 5:6-7 – 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. NASB

Let us therefore learn Paul’s secret here….it is Christ who strengthens us in this life. If you want to be happy, if you want to be settled and peaceful no matter what you face, if you desire to be content in “any and every circumstance,” you “can do all things through Him who gives you strength!” Will you trust him?

Remedies and exhortations to contentment

1) Learn to delight in God and be thankful (1 Thes 5:16-18). Count your blessings ever and always!

2) Be careful not to get too attached to things in this world (1 John 2:15-17), for you do not know when they will be taken from you. You must be willing to part with anything, should the Lord require it of you.

3) Be sure that you are valuing Christ above all other things in your life. If you are not, your value system is broken and in desperate need of repair, because He is most valuable.

4) Remember always that God knows what is best for you and will never give you more than you can bear (1 Cor 10:13), but will always be a refuge for those who call upon Him for deliverance (Psalm 145:18-19). God has designed your suffering to work for your good, and will at the proper time give you relief. His will shall never lead you where His grace will not keep you.

5) Let a Christian often think with himself, “who hath placed me here, whether I am in a high sphere, or in a lower. Not chance or fortune, as the purblind heathens imagined; no, it is the wise God(Lam 3:37-38) that hath by his providence fixed me in this orb.” Thomas Watson

6) When facing a bitter trial, remember that God has promised never to leave you or forsake you (Heb 13:5-6), but will be your strength and hope no matter what you face. You must come to Him personally for strength…. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me!”

7) Prayer gives vent to your sufferings. Pour out your compliant to God, with humility and contrition ask Him what response He might be seeking from you. Then leave you care at His feet, as often as possible, expecting either His deliverance or His grace to endure. He is worthy of your trust and you can believe his promises to care for you.

8) Your sufferings are not so great as your sins: put these two in the balance, and see which weighs heaviest; where sin lies heavy, sufferings lie light. A carnal spirit makes more of his sufferings, and less of his sins. Thomas Watson